An unusual presentation of subacute Haemophilus parainfluenzae endocarditis in a low-risk woman treated by minimally invasive mitral valve repair: a case report.

BACKGROUND: HACEK endocarditis is usually insidious and can often be difficult to diagnose due to the slow-growing nature of the organisms. This report presents our experience in treating a patient with Haemophilus parainfluenzae endocarditis. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a previously fit and well 23 year-old woman who presented to her local emergency department with a four-week history of persistent febrile illness. She had associated nausea, vomiting, and lethargy. This was preceded by an episode of mucopurulent rhinorrhoea. She was treated empirically with oral amoxicillin for a putative diagnosis of rhinosinusitis. Initially, her symptoms abated, however, she was readmitted with high fevers and a new pansystolic murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large, mobile, echogenic mass, tethered to the posterior mitral valve leaflet (PMVL) and mild mitral regurgitation (MR). On examination, she had multiple non-tender, erythematous macules on the plantar surface of her feet, consistent with Janeway lesions. Two separate blood cultures grew H. parainfluenzae. Infectious diseases recommended a four-week course of intravenous ceftriaxone. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a perforation within the P3 segment of the PMVL. Subsequently, the patient underwent mitral valve repair surgery with an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the importance of promptly diagnosing HACEK endocarditis. A prolonged course of antibiotic therapy can be lifesaving, and surgery is often necessary to address complications such as perforation within the mitral valve leaflets. In our patient, we were able to perform a sliding P2 leaflet plasty for good quality repair of the mitral valve, through a minimally invasive right anterior thoracotomy.

Artificial Intelligence Applications in Diagnosing and Managing Non-syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comprehensive Review.

Craniosynostosis is characterised by the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures, resulting in an abnormal head shape. The management of craniosynostosis requires early diagnosis, surgical intervention, and long-term monitoring. With the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, there is great potential for AI to assist in various aspects of managing craniosynostosis. The main aim of this article is to review available literature describing the current uses of AI in craniosynostosis. The main applications highlighted include diagnosis, surgical planning, and outcome prediction. Many studies have demonstrated the accuracy of AI in differentiating subtypes of craniosynostosis using machine learning (ML) algorithms to classify craniosynostosis based on simple photographs. This demonstrates its potential to be used as a screening tool and may allow patients to monitor disease progression reducing the need for CT scanning. ML algorithms can also analyse CT scans to aid in the accurate and efficient diagnosis of craniosynostosis, particularly when training junior surgeons. However, the lack of sufficient data currently limits this clinical application. Virtual surgical planning for cranial vault remodelling using prefabricated cutting guides has been shown to allow more precise reconstruction by minimising the subjectivity of the clinicians' assessment. This was particularly beneficial in reducing operating length and preventing the need for blood transfusions. Despite the potential benefits, there are numerous challenges associated with implementing AI in craniosynostosis. The integration of AI in craniosynostosis holds significant promise for improving the management of craniosynostosis. Further collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and AI experts is necessary to harness its full potential.

An Incidental Finding of a Large Pericardial Cyst.

A pericardial cyst is a rare and benign cause of a mediastinal mass. They are frequently asymptomatic and are usually incidental findings on imaging. Symptoms may include persistent cough, atypical chest pain, dysphagia, and dyspnea. Diagnosis is usually established with the aid of imaging, including a chest x-ray, a computed tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therapeutic options include surgical resection or aspiration for large and/or symptomatic cysts, whereas conservative management with routine follow-up is advised for small or asymptomatic cysts. We herein describe the case of a 48-year-old lady, who presented with clinical features suggestive of acute cholecystitis, with an incidental finding of a pericardial cyst, measuring approximately 10.1 cm x 8.7 cm x 10.7 cm. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for excision of the pericardial cyst. She had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the second post-operative day. At six months, there was no evidence of disease recurrence.

A Carotid Body Tumour Mimicking Richter's Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia.

Carotid body tumours (CBT), also called carotid paragangliomas, are highly vascular glomus tumours that originate from paraganglionic cells of the carotid body. They are frequently asymptomatic, insidious, and non-secretory in nature. They typically present as a large, non-tender, pulsatile neck mass. Careful evaluation of a neck mass, with the aid of imaging, is necessary to avoid a misdiagnosis. We herein describe a case of a 77-year-old gentleman with a background of chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukaemia, who was found to have a rapidly enlarging, asymptomatic neck mass along with multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the axillae. Given his past medical history, the preliminary diagnosis was Richter's transformation. However, the characteristic splaying of the internal and external carotid arteries on imaging prompted us to consider the diagnosis of a CBT. The patient was referred to vascular surgeons for surgical excision of the tumour. Histology confirmed that the neck mass was indeed a CBT. Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of the axillary lymph nodes revealed a concomitant Hodgkin-like Richter's transformation. This case exemplifies how we were able to differentiate between a CBT and nodal mass with the aid of various imaging modalities. An accurate diagnosis allows clinicians to deliver the appropriate management; the treatment for CBT is surgical excision, whereas chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for Richter's transformation.

Protective Effects of CVD and DM Medications in SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Despite the burden of disease of CVD and DM, there is a lack of experimentally validated literature exploring their association with exacerbation of COVID-19. Target receptors of medications commonly used to treat CVD and DM may be involved in the viral entry mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. We propose the potential protective effects of these medications in COVID-19 infections, highlighting the need for further research. Firstly, AMPK mediated phosphorylation of ACE-2 by metformin as well as the drug's alkaline properties may interrupt the natural disease progression. Secondly, DPP4 receptor involvement in the putative viral entry of SARS-CoV-2 may be prevented by DPP4i. Finally, recent studies have shown that statins' ability to inhibit the cytokine storm may outweigh concerns of statin mediated ACE-2 upregulation in COVID-19. The complex interplay of factors affecting CVD and DM in COVID-19 patients makes the direct effects of medications difficult to examine. Therefore, further research is needed, in the context of SARS-CoV-2 and the molecular pathways it exploits, to potentially repurpose such pre-existing drugs for their use in COVID-19.